H&W teams up for Open House for Students

The Wood Machinery Industry Association organized a CTE – Manufacturing Days Open House at Herrick & White’s Cumberland plant showcased woodworking opportunities to students.

Chris Hofmann, chairman of the WMIA Education Committee and project manager for Colonial Saw, hopes this inaugural event will become the “template” for rolling out similar events supported by the WMIA and its members throughout the United States.

Greg Larson, director of the New England School of Architectural Woodwork and a member of the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America’s Board of Directors, represented the WCA at the open house.

Career and technical education teachers, students, and parents were invited to attend the event. Students from Rhode Island schools were given plant tours. Students had opportunities to speak with some of our workforces. Vendors were set up in our lumber shed to share more information with guests.

Afterward, Chris Hofmann and Greg Larson along with Ken Bertram, Gary Rousseau, and Steve Brannigan from Herrick & White participated in a live video chat with students from schools across the country. Students were interested to learn about each of their journeys to their current jobs and asked questions about careers in the woodworking industry.

Click here to read about the event, the announcement for the event, and also on Skills for RI’s Future’s website.